MALONE TRIES TO IGNORE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM – JOB CUTS FOR FIRIES AND AMBOS
Published Wednesday, 11 March, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Minister for Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts today called on the Opposition to be up front with the state’s emergency service workers.
Mr Roberts said Opposition Emergency Services Spokesperson Ted Malone had been deathly silent on Lawrence Springborg’s plan to slash funding to vital government services.
“Close to 400 jobs would be ripped from the Department of Emergency Services - as part of 12,000 jobs slashed across government - by the National Party’s plan to slash $1 billion out of the public service,” Mr Roberts said.
Mr Roberts said the planned job cuts were the elephant in the room the Opposition refused to talk about.
“The Queensland Nationals have not been honest with emergency services personnel. Issuing a media release this week titled, ‘Frontline emergency services to be boosted by LNP’, Mr Malone refused to rule out job cuts in emergency services.
“In a case of blatant politicking Mr Malone said ‘the LNP stood for boosting frontline staff’ without promising to safeguard emergency services jobs from the chopping block.
“We know the Opposition’s three percent efficiency dividend applies across all areas of government – Mr Malone cannot say otherwise,” he said.
“Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls has said this 'dividend applies across the entire State Government'.
“For the Opposition to say that is stands for boosting frontline staff while committing to budget cuts right across the board is absurd."
Mr Roberts said Mr Malone’s colleague Rosemary Menkens yesterday contradicted Lawrence Springborg by stating there would be no cuts to disability services.
“She has come out and said that cuts in her area won't happen - she has said the efficiency dividend won't apply,” he said.
Mr Roberts said it is was now time for Mr Malone to stand up and be counted.
“He can either rule out budget and jobs cuts to emergency services or he can let his silence do the talking - that emergency services funding and jobs will be slashed under a Springborg Government,” he said.
Media Contact: Minister Roberts’ Office – 3247 8997
Mr Roberts said Opposition Emergency Services Spokesperson Ted Malone had been deathly silent on Lawrence Springborg’s plan to slash funding to vital government services.
“Close to 400 jobs would be ripped from the Department of Emergency Services - as part of 12,000 jobs slashed across government - by the National Party’s plan to slash $1 billion out of the public service,” Mr Roberts said.
Mr Roberts said the planned job cuts were the elephant in the room the Opposition refused to talk about.
“The Queensland Nationals have not been honest with emergency services personnel. Issuing a media release this week titled, ‘Frontline emergency services to be boosted by LNP’, Mr Malone refused to rule out job cuts in emergency services.
“In a case of blatant politicking Mr Malone said ‘the LNP stood for boosting frontline staff’ without promising to safeguard emergency services jobs from the chopping block.
“We know the Opposition’s three percent efficiency dividend applies across all areas of government – Mr Malone cannot say otherwise,” he said.
“Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls has said this 'dividend applies across the entire State Government'.
“For the Opposition to say that is stands for boosting frontline staff while committing to budget cuts right across the board is absurd."
Mr Roberts said Mr Malone’s colleague Rosemary Menkens yesterday contradicted Lawrence Springborg by stating there would be no cuts to disability services.
“She has come out and said that cuts in her area won't happen - she has said the efficiency dividend won't apply,” he said.
Mr Roberts said it is was now time for Mr Malone to stand up and be counted.
“He can either rule out budget and jobs cuts to emergency services or he can let his silence do the talking - that emergency services funding and jobs will be slashed under a Springborg Government,” he said.
Media Contact: Minister Roberts’ Office – 3247 8997